Automatic splicing rollstand

ABSTRACT

A ROLLSTTAND FOR SUPPLYING A CONTINUOUS WEB AT SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SPEED AND TENSION FROM A SUCCESSION OF WEB SUPPLY ROLLS. THE ROLLSTAND INCLUDES A FRAME WHICH SUPPORTS TWO PAIRS OF SPIDER ARMS, EACH PAIR BEING MOVABLY HINGED AT ONE END AND PROVIDED WITH SPINDLES AT THE OTHER FOR RROTATABLY SUPPORTING ONE WEB SUPPLY ROLL. CONNNECTED TO EACH PAIR OF SPIDER ARMS IS A CONTROL DEVICE FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THAT PAIR OF ARMS TO PERMIT THE PICK-UP AND DISCHARBE OF ITS WEB SUPPLY ROLL. THE ROLLSSTAND FURTHER INCLUDES TWO DRIVEBELT SYSTEMS EACH OF WHICH IS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE TWO WEB SUPPLY ROLLS HELD BY THE SPIDER ARMS.THESE DRIVEBELT SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIVE TO ROTATE THE CONTACTED ROLL WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT CIRCUMFERENTIAL SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE ROLLSTAND IS PROVIDED WITH TWO SPLICING DEVICES FOR PASTING THE RUNNING WEB SUPPLIED BY A FIRST ROLL TO THE WEB SUPPLIED BY A SECOND AND FOR   CUTTING THE WEB SUPPLIED BY THE FIRST ROLL JUST PRIOR TO THE MOMENT WHEN THE FIRST ROLL HAS EXPIRED.

June 19, 1973 J J, MCDONALD 3,740,296

AUTOMATIC SPLICING ROLLSTAND Filed May 10, 1971 3 Sheets-Sheet l N J INVENTOR.

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JLMIIHMI IP11 mm IWIIIWINI m 315 m #H TM M iH W Hfl 3 Q INVENTCR. JOHN J. MCDONALD ATTORNEYS his United States Patent 3,740,296 AUTOMATIC SPLICING ROLLSTAND John J. McDonald, Park Ridge, NJ., assignor to John C. Motter Printing Press Co., York, Pa.

Filed May 10, 1971, Ser. No. 141,789 Int. Cl. B65h 19/08 US. Cl. 156-504 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rollstand for supplying a continuous web at substan tially constant speed and tension from a succession of web supply rolls. The rollstand includes a frame which supports two pairs of spider arms, each pair being movably hinged at one end and provided with spindles at the other for rotatably supporting one web supply roll. Connected to each pair of spider arms is a control device for raising and lowering that pair of arms to permit the pick-up and discharge of its web supply roll. The rollstand further includes two drivebelt systems each of which is movable into and out of frictional engagement with one of the two web supply rolls held by the spider arms. These drivebelt systems are operative to rotate the contacted roll with a substantially constant circumferential speed. In addition, the rollstand is provided with two splicing devices for pasting the running web supplied by a first roll to the web supplied by a second and for cutting the web supplied by the first roll just prior to the moment when the first roll has expired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to web handling devices for transferring a running web from one rotating web supply roll to another at the moment when the first roll is about to expire. v

More particularly, thepresent invention relates to antomatic splicing rollstands for uninterruptedly supplying a" continuous web of paper, cloth, felt, metal foil or the like to a high speed printing press or some other continuous web processing machine from a succession of Web supply rolls. v

There are various different types of web handling devices conventionally used in the art for transferring a running web from one web supply roll to another. In one such device, the expiring web rollthat is, the roll from which the running web is being supplied to a printing press or other web processing machine--and the new web roll--that is, the roll to which the running web is to be spliced-are supported by interconnected spider arms which rotate about a common shaft. During. one complete revolution of, this shaft, the new web roll is mounted on the spider arms and brought up, to speed; the leading edge of the web on the new web roll is spliced to the running web; the new web roll is emptied and, just prior to the moment when the roll has expired, its running web is spliced to theleading edge of the next full web roll and finally severed. Thereafter, the empty core is discharged from the spider arms and replaced by another new roll.

In another known type of web handling device, the

Patented June 19, 1973 web from the expired roll is then spliced to the leading edge of a stationary new web roll. After the splice is made the new web roll is brought up to speed and the length of the stored running web increased again.

Asmay be appreciated from the description above, the conventional automatic splicing devices are relatively large and complex. Due to their size, these devices are not only costly to produce but they are also difficult to transport from factory to field. After assembly and testing in the factory, the apparatus must normally be disassembled, shipped and reassembled at the place of installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an automatic splicing rollstand which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the known apparatus described above.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide rollstand apparatus of considerably reduced dimensions which is operative to supply a continuous web from a succession of web supply rolls at a substantially constant speed and tension.

These objects, as well as other objects which will become apparent in the discussion that follows, are achieved, according to the present invention, by providing apparatus with two pairs of spider arms, arranged to rotate independently on separate shafts. One of these pairs of spider arms is used to hold the expiring web supply roll from which the running web is taken while the other is operated to lower the expired roll and to lift a new roll from a simple dolly. Once the new roll has been raised to the splicing position it is held at this position until it too has expired and is ready for replacement.

More particularly, the rollstand apparatus according to the present invention includes a frame which.supports two pairs of spider arms each movably hinged at one end and provided with spindles at the other for rotatably supporting one web supply roll. Connected to each pair of spider arms is a control device which can raise or lower that pair of arms to permit the pick-up or discharge of its web supply roll. The rollstand further includes two drivebelt systems, each of which is movable into and out of frictional engagement with one of the two web supply rolls held by the two pairs of spider arms. These drivebelt systems are operative to ro ate the Web rolls with which they are in contact with substantially constant circumferential speed. Finally, the rollstand is further provided with two splicing devices for pasting the web supplied by a first roll to the web supplied by a second and for cutting the web supplied by the first roll just prior to the moment when the first roll has expired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly representational and partly in cross-section, of the preferred embodiment of the rollstand apparatus according to the present invenrunning web is passed back and forth in S-shaped fashion roll is brought to a standstill. The trailing edge of the tion. In this view the running web, which is supplied from an expiring roll on the lefthand side of the apparatus, is about to be spliced to the leading edge of the web of a new roll on the righthand side of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a further side elevational view of the rollstand apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In this figure the running web is supplied from an expiring roll on the right-hand side of the apparatus and is about to be spliced to the leading edge of the web of a new roll on the left-hand side of the apparatus.

- FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the rollstand apparatus according to the present invention which is shown in side view in FIGS. 1" and 2.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of the rollstand apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. l-3 of the drawings. This apparatus is shown in side view in FIGS. 1 and 2 and shown in end view in FIG. 3. Identical elements of the apparatus shown in these three figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

Wherever possible, the apparatus shown in these figures has been simplified so as not to obscure the novel features characteristic of the invention with details of conventional parts and elements well known to those skilled in the art. For further clarity of understanding, the rollstand apparatus is described below as providing a continuous Web of paper to a printing press from a succession of paper rolls. It will be understood, however, that this apparatus may be used with any type of flexible web to supply the web to any type of processing machine.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 is comprised of two side plates 12, 14, tied together with cross-members 16 to provide a rigid box-like structure or frame. The plates 12, 14 and the cross-members 16 are made of sufficient strength so that the frame will be capable of absorbing the vibration induced by an out of round roll of paper rotating at a circumferential speed equivalent to the maximum web speed of the printing press.

Each roll of paper is supported by a pair of spider arms 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b carrying slidably mounted, ballbearing spindle cones 23. These cones are slidable into and out of the paper cores and are provided with locking means in their engaging mechanism to hold them in the engaged position. The two pairs of spider arms 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b, are carried by separate shafts 24 and 26, respectively, which are rotatably mounted in the two plates 12 and 14. Each of the spider arms 20a, 20b, 22a and 22b is individually adjustable in the horizontal direction to any position along its respective supporting shaft 24 or 26 to provide the appropriate spacing for holding rolls of paper of various widths at any position across the width of the machine. The pairs of spider arms may thus be rotated by their supporting shifts to lift or lower rolls of paper from or to the loading dollies 28.

Each shaft 24 and 26 may be rotated through an arc of about 90' by either a hydraulic or an electromechanicil control mechanism 30 associated therewith and arranged outside the frame plates 12 and 14. Each control mechanism may be manually started and stopped when the spider arms are lowered to pick up a new roll of paper. When the spider arms are raised with the new roll of paper, the control mechanism 30 is preferably stopped automatically when the edge of the roll interrupts a horizontal beam of light 32 in a photo-electric system 34. Once the new roll is placed in position for splicing and running, it is held in position until it has expired and the running web has been spliced to another roll.

Located above each roll of paper is a set of multiple belt arms 36 which carry pulleys 38 and belts 40. The pulleys 38 that are closest to the frame are mounted on a shaft 42 which is driven by the printing press via a clutch 43 and either a variable speed or a fixed ratio speed reducing drive (not shown). The pulleys 38 at the ends of the belt arms are mounted on shifts 45 which is biased outward by springs 47 which maintain tension on the belts.

The belt arms 36 are capable of being raised and lowered by air cylinders 44 or other suitable means to permit engagement and disengagement of the belts the running roll of paper by control of the appropriate air cylinders 44. If a variable speed drive is employed to drive the belts 40, the dancer roller 46 is connected to control this variable speed drive.

The belt arms 36 follow the diminishing rolls of paper down to a predetermined butt size. During this operation, the web tension is transferred gradually to core brakes 50 arranged to retard the rotation of one spindle 23 on each pair of spider arms 20' and 22. After transition of tension, the belt arms 36 are lifted by their air cylinders 44 from the expiring butt to their raised position.

Vertically arranged on each frame plate 12 and 14 are two rails 52 and 54 which slidably support two splicing devices 56 and 58, respectively. These splicing devices are provided with two web guide rollers 60, 62; a spring loaded brush, which moves outward when released and comes in contact with the running web, and a knife 66, which is operative when actuated to sever the running web across its entire width.

The preferred embodiment of the rollstand apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 and described above operates in the following manner:

The rollstand is shown in FIG. 1 with a nearly expired roll of paper 18 on the left-hand spider arms 22 supplying the running web 48 to the printing press. The lefthand splicer device 56 is in the downward position with its brush 64 and knife 66 in contact with the running web. First the brush and then the knife are actuated upon receipt of two successive timing pulses to glue the leading edge of the web of the right-hand paper roll 18 to the running web 48 and to sever the web supplied by the left-hand expiring roll 18. The adhesive is placed on the leading edge of the new roll by hand and this leading edge is fastened to the roll by means of tabs to prevent the web from unwinding while the new roll is being brought up to speed.

A diameter detecting device (not shown) may be provided to accurately measure the expiring roll so that a minimum amount of waste will be left thereon. When a signal is received from this detecting device, or when a button is manually pressed to indicate that the splice is to be made, a circuit is gated closed to permit the actuation of first the brush 64 upon receipt of the next or firstinto contact with the running web to effect the splice. The

tabs which are used to fasten the leading edge of the web to the new roll 18 are designed to give way to permit the leading edge to be drawn upward with the running web 48 upon completion of the splice.

The running web 48 is thereafter supplied by the righthand paper roll 18 until this paper roll too has expired. During this period-which, for example, may be in the order of 10 to 45 minutes-the left-hand belt arms 36 are lifted to their upward position to permit the roll on the spider arms 22 to be replaced. In the alternative, it is possible to transfer the nmning web tension to the lefthand core brakes 50 and to raise the left-hand belt arms 36 shortly (eg 5 minutes or less) before the splice is made. While the belt arms 36 are in their upper position, the clutch which rotates the left-hand shaft 42 is disengaged to halt the movement of the belts 40.

The spider arms 22 are then lowered to permit disengagement of the empty paper core and to engage the core of a new roll 68, shown in FIG. 1 by dotted dashed lines, which is carried by the left-hand dolly 28.

In the meantime, the left-hand splicer device 56 is raised by cables or the like to its upward position 70,

also shown in FIG. 1 with dotted dashed lines. Raising this splicer permits the new roll to be raised by the spider arms 22 from the dolly so that the operator can prepare the roll by removing the outer layers of damaged paper attaching the leading edge of the paper to the roll by means of tabs, and applying the adhesive.

After preparing the new roll the operator depresses a button which automatically raises the new roll to the position shown in FIG. 2.

As the diameter of the expiring roll on the right-hand spider arms 20is reduced, the right-hand belt arms 36 move downward, as shown in FIG. 2, to maintain contact between the surface of the expiring roll and the belts 40. When the expiring roll has reached a prescribed diameter, the right-hand splicer device 58 is lowered. As the splicer is moved, the rollers 60 and '62 reposition the path of the running web so that it will lie closely adjacent to the new roll in preparation for splicing.

The left-hand belt arms 36 are then lowered until the left-hand belts 40 wrap around the new roll as shown in FIG. 2. The clutch 43 which connects the printing press to the left-hand shaft 42 is gradually engaged to cause the new roll to accelerate without slippage between the belts 40 and the surface of the roll. Any such slippage would disturb the adhesive preparation and possibly loosen the leading edge of the roll.

When the circumferential speed of the new roll has increased to a speed matching that of the running web 48, the roll stand is ready for the next splice. Although this splice will now be made by the right-hand splicing device 58, it will be carried out in a manner identical to the splice described above in connection with FIG. 1.

The arrangement of the dual pairs of spider arms, the dual sets of belt arms and the dual splicer devices in the rollstand apparatus according to the present invention provides a number of important advantages. For example, this arrangement permits either set of spider arms to be loaded with a new roll without disturbing the running tension of the web being fed to the printing press. Since the dual splicer devices are movable and thereby operative to place the running web adjacent to the new roll, the web supply rolls need not be moved, while runuing, to a separate splicing position.

The rollstand according to the present invention also permits any size roll, from empty core to a roll of full diameter, to be picked up or discharged directly onto a dolly. No separate lifting means are required for loading a new roll since the spider arms can be lowered to dolly height independently of the position of the spider arms which hold the running roll.

The rollstand according to the present invention has the further advantage that maximum belt wrap is constantly available so that, in the event of an emergency printing press stop, the belts which are driven by and therefore also stop with the printing press will be able to overcome the inertia of the running roll to stop the roll and avoid slackening of the web without slippage between the belts and the roll. The possibility of slippage may be further reduced by applying maximum tension between the belts and the roll at the moment the printing press is stopped.

Finally, since the pairs of spider arms in the rollstand of the present invention do not move through a complete revolution, collector rings, rotating unions and the like are not required to provide connections to any devices, such as spindle brakes and timing or sensing devices, mounted on the spider arms. With the rollstand according to the present invention the connections may be provided by flexible cables or tubing.

It will be understood that the rollstand according to the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations as will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the scope of the present invention be limited only by the following claims or their equivalents.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supplying a continuous web at substantially constant speed and tension comprising, in combination:

(a) a supporting frame;

(b) first arm means movably hinged at one end thereof to said supporting frame and having spindle means at the other end thereof for rotatably supporting a first web supply roll;

(0) second arm means movably hinged at one end thereof to said supporting frame and having spindle means at the other end thereof for rotably supporting a second web supply roll;

(d) first arm control means for pivoting said first arm means about its hinged end to raise and lower its spindled end;

(e) second arm control means for pivoting said second arm means about its hinged end to raise and lower its spindled end;

(f) first drive means for rotating said first web roll with a substantially constant circumferential speed;

( second drive means for rotating said second web roll with a substantially constant circumferential speed;

(h) first splicer means for connecting the web supplied by said first web roll to the leading edge of the web arranged on said second web roll and for severing the web supplied by said first web roll, said first splicer means including at least one first roller means for guiding the web supplied by said first web roll and wherein said first splicer means is movable with respect to said supporting frame so that the web supplied by said first web roll may be guided by said first roller means into a position adjacent to the web on said second web roll prior to splicing; and

(i) second splicer means for connecting the web supplied by said second web roll to the leading edge of the web arranged on said first web roll and for severing the web supplied by said second web roll, said second splicer means including at least one second roller means for guiding the web supplied by said second web roll and wherein said second splicer means is movable with respect to said supporting frame so that the web supplied by said second web roll may be guided by said second roller means into a position adjacent to the web on said first web roll prior to splicing,

whereby either one of said first and second web rolls can be replaced by lowering and raising said first and second arm means, respectively, without changing the position of the Web roll supplying the running web.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first arm means includes a pair of spider arms, each of said spider arms having one end thereof arranged to rotate about a common axis and the other end thereof provided with a spindle for supporting one end of a web supply roll, whereby said pair of spider arms are operative to support opposite ends of a web supply roll.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said sec-- ond arm means includes a pair of spider arms, each of said spider arms having one end thereof arranged to rotate about a common axis and the other end thereof provided with a spindle for supporting one end of a web supply roll, whereby said pair of spider arms are operative to support opposite ends of a web supply roll.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second drive means each includes:

(1) at least one supporting arm movably hinged at one end thereof to said supporting frame;

(2) at least two pulleys rotatably mounted in spaced apart relationship on said supporting arm;

(3) at least one endless belt surrounding said at least two pulleys, said belt being movable upon rotation of said pulleys; and r (4) means for rotationally driving at least one of said pulleys.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said means for driving at least one of said pulleys includes a drive shaft and a clutch for selectively coupling said drive shaft With said at least one pulley.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said continuous Web is supplied to a web processing machine having means for driving said machine and said drive shaft is connected to said machine driving means.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second splicer means are each independently movable in the vertical direction.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting frame has arranged thereon a plurality of guide rails and said first and second splicer means are each independently movable along said guide rails.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second splicer means each further include:

(1) a movable supporting member;

(2) brush means, mounted on said supporting member and movable with respect tosaid supporting member 8 into and out of engagement with said one web, for pressing said one web against said other web.

10. The apparatus defined in claim '9,'Wherein said first and second splicer means each-further includes knife means, mounted on said supporting member, for severing said one web when said one web is pressed against said other web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Phillipset a1. 24258.1

ALFRED L. LEAVITI, Primar Examiner D. A. SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner a US. 01. X.R: 24258.1, 58.5 

